Klarinet Archive - Posting 000271.txt from 1998/01

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Mouthpiece Curvature/Tip Closing
Date: Tue, 6 Jan 1998 08:19:15 -0500

On Mon, 5 Jan 1998, DGross1226 wrote:
> Roger,
> One of my favorite ways to check the adjustment of a contrabass clarinet
> reed/mpc combination (which has one heck of a curvature) is to put the
> reed/mpc/ligature assembly into the gooseneck, put your hand over the open of
> the gooseneck, and suck! A well faced mpc (mine was refaced by Tom Ridenour)
> with a properly adjusted reed will hold the resulting vacuum for up to 20
> seconds -- with the TIP CLOSED. If one adjusts the reed so that it DOESN'T
> seal, guess what? No sound!

Thanks for the note Don....

I thought this was a method for checking the warping of the reed. I would
hazzard a weak, somewhat defeated objection that the reed never vibrates
as far in at the tip as that test requires to check the seal of the reed.
Another thing.....I have an old Kasper that does not have the exact same
curve on each rail....and this test has never worked....even for an
absolutely flat reed.....but the mouthpiece still plays great.

Just some more ammunition for the "arguement" (not really an arguement
afterall!)

Roger Garrett
IWU